October 28, 2025 • 33 mins
Remember the name.
The NBA is back in full swing, and one men’s hoops story is rising above them all: San Antonio Spur Victor Wembanyama’s breakout season. Even before he arrived to the league in 2023, Wemby was touted as the NBA’s next generational star. Now in his third season, the French big man is exploding on the court. There’s never been an athlete like the 7-foot-4 Wemby, and today’s episode of The GIST of It will break down why Wembanyama is him, including a look into all of his offseason side quests.
Show notes:
Join The GIST Plus
More on The GIST:
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🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
The NBA is back in full swing, and one men’s hoops story is rising above them all: San Antonio Spur Victor Wembanyama’s breakout season. Even before he arrived to the league in 2023, Wemby was touted as the NBA’s next generational star. Now in his third season, the French big man is exploding on the court. There’s never been an athlete like the 7-foot-4 Wemby, and today’s episode of The GIST of It will break down why Wembanyama is him, including a look into all of his offseason side quests.
Show notes:
Join The GIST Plus
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
What's up, justters, Welcome or welcome back to another episode
of The Gist of It. Today's Tuesday, October twenty eighth.
We're your co hosts.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm Ellen Hissla and I'm Steph Rots And what you
all just didn't hear in the bloopers that Savannah, our
editor had to edit out, I just said, I'm Ellen Stephanie.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
And that's the type of day that has been for
me today, Steph. I can't even say my name right,
I'm Ellen Stephanie.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Apparently I thought you were gonna say.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
And that's the kind of relationship that we have is
we get lost in each other.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We do get lost in each other. Libro's Libro's forever.
It feels like it's been such a long time since
we've been on the podcast together stuff because you rightfully
so took a beat for your birthday and enjoyed a
nice birthday day off. And then we had our just
team off site last week, so we only had one
podcast go live, but that was pre recorded. So I
(01:00):
really missed you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I have missed you so much.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I also just spent the weekend with a friend that
I only know because Ellen introduced me to her, and obviously,
we spent a good chunk of it talking about how
much we love you and miss you and want to
see you all the time. So I actually miss you
because you've just been so top of mind for me.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh my gosh, the amount of fomo that I had
when you two were posting your camping trip. I said,
this is not good. This is green with envy. This
is one of the sins. I'm not sure what it is,
but you know, it makes me so happy that you
all are friends, but it makes me so mad when
you do things with that me, you know. But I
(01:41):
can't physically be there because we don't live in the
same city. But I'm so happy for you both well
at the same time, I just want to operate and
be there with you.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I totally agree. We do wish you were there. We
are so happy for you as well because of all
the things that you got cooking in your life metaphorically.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
And so yeah, I did get to see the both
of you at my baby shower, which was so fun.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I can't believe you had a whole ass baby shower.
Since we last talked to, like on the podcast, we
so much has happened, and it has been a hot minute.
We are so sorry Justers that you had to have
time away from us, and we are so sorry that
last week could not be timely because I know a
lot of folks did want to hear us talking about
the World Series.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yes, which we will get to today. But also, Steph,
I'm so excited because during this whirlwind, the NBA season started. Woof,
I can't we just missed the beginning of the NBA season.
Thankfully our newsletter team didn't, so we put out special editions.
We're starting to cover it. There's already been a freakin
sports betting scandal that's happened in the NBA that our
(02:41):
team covered that missus is ludicrous and will continue to
cover it. But we decided today instead of getting into
the sports betting scandal because that feels a little bit old,
go to the just sports dot com get caught up
on it. It is she's talking to me unfamiliar at
Steph rots, But we're choosing the bright side of the
(03:02):
NBA today, and Victor webbin Yama is the bright side
of the NBA to me right.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Now, hundred per cent.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Even before he arrived to the league back in twenty
twenty three, Webban Yama has been touted as the NBA's
next generational star, and we are going to talk about
that today. He is now in his third season and
just positively exploding on the court, and you love to
see someone living up to the hype.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
He is seven foot four and he is tall, and
he is lanky and wiry, and people call him Wemby
lovingly because Webin Yama is a mouthful to say, so
people call him Wemby. And we need to use today
to really talk about why Webby is that girl? You
(03:51):
know what I mean? Like, he is that girl and
we need to talk about it. But first I want
to call an audible, and I want to call an
audible with the premise of we are recording this on
Monday evening before the Toronto Blue Jays and the La
Dodgers faced off in Game three of the World Series,
(04:12):
so as we're recording, the World Series is one to one.
What I want to talk about, Step, is your feelings
of the Jonas brothers performing at the World Series.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I have so many feelings unfortunately. So Yeah, it's October
twenty seventh, just in case you need a physical date
to attach to it today's episode.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, Ellen, you know that I'm Alung longtime Jonah's brother fan.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, I have given them so much of my time,
so much of my money. Over my lifetime. I have
sustained friendships via the Jonas brothers. They truly were a
pivotal part of my life. And then they collaborated.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
With Rascal Flats.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
After Rascal Flats played at Trump's inauguration and Nick Jonah
tweeted at Elon Musk in admiration, and Joe Jonas and
Sophie Turner got a divorce and Joe tried to smear
her in the press and painter as a bad mother.
And I always knew that they were going to disappoint
me in some way. I just didn't think it was
(05:16):
going to be this way. I thought it was gonna
be something different. I was not emotionally prepared, and I've
tried to disentangle myself from them, and so to have
them at the World Series when the Toronto Blue Jays
are in it for the first time really in our lifetime.
I know that Ellen, you and I were born in
ninety two, so we were literal babies in ninety two
and ninety three, so those don't count in my opinion.
(05:38):
So since I've been able to watch television, this is
the first time they're in the World Series, So please,
I'm so upset. Why did they have to intermingle and
ruin that?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
For me? It also to me felt so random random.
I mean, it felt just so random. It was like
this little blip of a Jonas brother's concert and then
it was just right back to the game. Like I
love the pregame entertainment and what they've been doing for
the national anthems and the first pitch and all that
(06:06):
sort of stuff. It seems like a really good time
for the World Series. However, if you're going to put
it on a performance, make it like the Super Bowl
halftime show. Don't just drop in with a random mix
from the Jonas Brothers and then go back to baseball.
That truly doesn't add anything for me from a fan
experience perspective.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I'm not a baseball purist by any means, but
to me, it makes no sense to interrupt a baseball
game with a performance that is just not It's already
long game. And I say that with so much love
in my heart. And there are natural breaks, obviously, but
I just don't think that it's necessary either do it
at the beginning, do a pre show like Alan mentioned,
(06:47):
or do something at the end, or I don't know,
figure something else, don't do it at all at all.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Literally don't do it at all. So and I think
two stuff was so with a Part of this, too,
is that this series has so far been awesome and
both teams are so good.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
The pitching for the La Dodgers is literally lights out,
and the bats for the Jas are going up against
the hardest bullpen or actually maybe not bullpen, the hardest
starters that they've ever seen, the toughest aces that they've
ever seen.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And so I think also stef because the baseball is
so good and there's so many storylines on both sides,
and also because the players are lovable on both sides.
I really do enjoy and like a lot of players
on the Dodgers and enjoy and like a lot of
players on the Blue Jays that it just felt so
unnecessary with the Jonas brothers. So I really wanted your
pop culture take, So thank you for giving that.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And I would like to know I'm asking the audience,
I'm asking y'all a question because of course I'm biased.
My algorithm is going to give me the information and
the content that they know that I want to see
to keep me on the apps.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I totally understand that. So that's why I'm asking you, folks.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Is it true that everyone except for la is rooting
for the Toronto Blue Jays or is that just what
my feed's telling me.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
That's hilarious. I think that's just what your feet is
telling you. But I would love to know as well
if that's happening elsewhere. I think I think it's less
people cheering for the Blue Jays, and I think a
lot of people's stuff saying they're doing it for the
plot and for the bit, basically saying, in today's world,
where there's a lot of tariffs being slung back and
forth between the US and Canada, how funny would it
(08:31):
be if a Canadian team won at America's pastime? And
so I think that there's a lot of people out
there that are like this would be funny for the plot.
I really hope that the Toronto Blue Jays do it
for the bit.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Also, the Dodgers have been in the World Series so
many times. Please let us have this and then maybe
I can get a day off work too.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Biggest payroll in baseball, baby, that's what you get. So
we talked about you being scared of the Jonas Brothers,
I'd say stuff. I think that that's a good way
to phrase it. And scary makes sense because we are
in the midst of spooky season. It is almost October
thirty first October. I love this witchy time. But to me, Seph,
(09:13):
what is scarier than the Shonas Brothers, What is scarier
than a haunted house? It actually is the Internet. And
that's because between trolls, gatekeepers and man splainers, being a
woman in sports online can truly feel like a horror movie.
And that is why, in case you haven't heard about it,
we have built the Just Plus. It's a safe, inclusive
(09:33):
community where real fans can connect, talk sports, and celebrate
without the scary vibes. For just four ninety nine a month,
anyone who joins the Just Plus will get access to
our ultra supportive discord, which is so much fun to
be part of and to be chatting about throughout these games,
a member's only newsletter and discounts on just merch and events,
(09:54):
or if you're ready to go to All Star for
nine ninety nine a month, you'll also get in an
exclusive podcast feed and partner perks with your favorite teams
in sports bars. So think two for one drinks, or
discounts to the Colorado Avalanche, discounts to the New York Giants,
whatever it is. So we really truly feel like anyone
who's listening to this podcast is the perfect member for
(10:18):
the Just Plus. And if you're interested in learning more,
go to the link in our show notes or visit
the Just sports dot com and you'll see at the
top of our website it says the Just plus and join.
We'd love to see you there, and we'd love for
you to escape the haunted Internet with us.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Alrighty rude, it's time to dive into all things Victor Weimbanyama,
one of the most exciting prospects to ever play in
the NBA.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Steph, you love a French accent. How would you say
Victor and a French accent? VICTA say it again and
Victor Victor?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I have no idea. Yeah, that was just fun.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, I was thinking about that before the podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I really don't know either, because he's French, that's what
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Well, he's a friend, he's twenty one, Yeah, he's from
French's He's from He's from friend He's from France, which
is a huge basketball country, especially nowadays, which is really
really fun. We've seen so many we've seen such great
talent from the w NBA or enter the w NBA
and the NBA as of late from France, and I
feel like it's been a like with Tony Parker from France,
(11:32):
all that sort of stuff. I feel like he influenced
a lot of French folk to play the beautiful game
of basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Remember the Olympics, the Summer Olympics that happened this Yeah,
the year you got married.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
No, it was the year after, dear, No, twenty twenty
four was the Summer Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I remember watching the Olympics at your.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
House, did it not? We watched soccer.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Not the year I got married. I got married the
year before.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Oh I was.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I was in at your house for someone else's wedding,
so exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
But yeah, they're as you got married.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But yeah, France killed it all to say exactly what
you just said. Anyway, I was like, wait, I.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Was in your house right right right here.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So we're watching basketball. Yeah, we were watching We were
watching basketball together. We're watching France play really well, like
twos say are start leg Anyway, that's what we do together.
We watched sports. So for a little bit of context,
let's talk about who Victor Webbin Yama is. He was
the first pick in the twenty twenty three NBA Draft.
He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs and also
(12:44):
as as a result, had the opportunity to be coached
by legendary head coach Greg Popovich. Pop, who had won
five NBA championships, spent twenty nine seasons as the Spurs
head coach before stepping down in May following a stroke.
And I think because of pop stuff, the Spurs were
seen as an awesome place for Wemby to land, an
(13:05):
awesome place for him to grow. But also in San Antonio.
Don't come at me. I would say San Antonio is
almost like a mid market NBA franchise, and that it's
not massive like an LA or a New York or
even a Boston, so that he could kind of I
don't know. I don't want to say go under the radar,
(13:26):
because he certainly hasn't done that. In San Antonio has
had a lot of stars over the years, but I
feel like a market like San Antonio allows you to
just kind of step in as opposed to sprint in.
I don't know if that's fair. Maybe that's just my opinion.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I'm gonna maybe help you out there too and say,
the culture surrounding that team probably would be different than
a Boston Celtics or an LA Lakers in terms of
the expectations that the fan base and the everyone who
watches the NBA might have on them.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Is that what you're getting at too? It's like, yeah,
a supportive environment.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yes, and they have one A championships like no, no, no, no, yeah, yeah,
but yeah, like it's supportive, but it's also just like
it's not a major market, you know what I mean?
Like you're I don't know, anyway less pressure than in
LA or in New York or Boston.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Did Becky Hammond coach with Greg Popovich? Is that Okay?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
That's who she was assistant coach for and Becky Hammond
Las Vegas Asis head coach who just won another fricking
WNBA championship. But anyway, we're not talking about the WNBA today.
We were talking about Wemby and so let's talk about
why he's so hyped so, as I already mentioned, he's enormous.
He's seven foot four, so think about how tall he is,
but also think about that wings fan, and I think
(14:40):
that Wigs fan is huge. His first two season stuff,
get this, he was listed at seven foot three. This
season he's listed at seven foot four. And he's so young.
He's twenty one. And famously, boys and I am calling
him a boy still grow at that age and so
he could still be growing.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I grew one into my twenties.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Did you actually so girls do too? You're like boys
could do it?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I can heart?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Can it be? Boys do it? I also grew an
inch to a whopping five to five or five four.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
But the NBA does see this a lot, right, because
did you grow to five five or five four? I
was five four for the longest time, and then we
pulled out the uh measuring.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Tape with my mom in my thirties and I was.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Five to five.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Trust me, if I had ever recorded a five to five,
I would be telling people on five to five.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, I love that anyway. Sorry, that's huge, that's a
that's big stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
So what happened at some point the last time I
would have measured myself would have been like driver's license era,
so like when I got my full license would have
been a couple of years after my teenage years, like
twenty something.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Any users, anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
This isn't about me, unfortunately, even though I'm so good
at doing that. This is about the NBA.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yes, and his wingspan stuff, like if he's growing, his
wigspan is apparently eight feet.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Whoa, I'm swingspan he could.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Oh my god, we just did the same brain wavelength
I was just about to say. And I want to
know why he isn't swimming as well, because that's what
he's giving. He's giving Michael Phelps. And so last season,
Steph he led the NBA in blocks despite playing in
only forty six games out of the eighty two, after
a season ending deep veme like thrombosis diagnosis. I have
(16:31):
no idea what that means, but just a deep vein issue, okay. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And not only is he huge, he plays basketball in
a way that people his height usually cannot. Unlike most
people who play his position with his height, et cetera,
et cetera, Wemby will dribble the ball down the court
in despite a size. He has remarkable ball control and
is able to keep his frame low and his dribble tight.
And usually, of course you can just think about the
(16:56):
physics of it all. Usually tall ball handlers are easy
targets for steals. There's just literally more space between their
hands and the ground. But he accounts for this, and
he is a great handler.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
He has handles, and that's something that you don't normally see.
I also think, too, what's so interesting about watching him
in a game. Stuff He can shoot beyond the arc.
He literally is not scared about shooting threes, and so
I feel like I feel like we see this a
little bit in someone like a Kevin Durant. He's not
(17:28):
Kevin Durant isn't as tall as someone like Wemby, but
he's wiry in the same type of way. I find
that KD is also a tall man who can shoot
a lot of threes. But I would say that KD
I would never feel comfortable if I was his coach
actually with him bringing the ball up the court versus Wemby.
I'm like, hell, yeah, dude, if you got the ball,
(17:48):
like continue to go up the court. And so that
is something that is so special, and I think that's
part of the reason stuff. Why so many people refer
to Wemby as an alien or as a unicorn.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yeah, because he's also one of the best isolation players,
so one on one in the game, which is also
unheard of for amnimphysize. So just to slight that last
little fact in there too before we talk about how
this particular season is projected to go and has already gone.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, so we're only three games in.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Yeah, we're only three games in. It's so funny. I
love how us as fans were like and so San
Antonio is going to be in the playoffs, Like that's
what we're thinking now. I love how NHL fans are
like the Maple Leafs, the Toronto maple Leafs haven't had
the best start, so like they're in the cam this year. Guys,
let's take a freaking breather. Okay. Yeah, So Wemby won
(18:36):
Rookie of the Year in his inaugural year, not a surprise,
and then he led the Leada League and block as
you mentioned. In his sophomore season, the Spurs of played
three games as you mentioned, Steph, but already Wemby is
the first player in NBA history to score one hundred
points more than one hundred points and have over fifteen
(18:58):
blocks through the first three games of this season. Now,
I will say sports SATs are freaking weird, right, Like
what is that for the first three games, But that's
a lot of points. When you do one hundred divided
by three, and when you do over fifteen blocks divided by.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Three, he has more blocks than twenty four teams do in.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Total so far this he has eighteen blocks this season.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah, only the Pistons, Grizzlies, Clippery Celtics, and of course
the Spurs have more than just him alone.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
It's actually wild. And I feel like Seph when we
were talking about the Spurs and talking about this mid market.
They are in a rebuild, I think, and I think
that they're trying to build around someone like Wemby. And
so what's really interesting here Steph is he's really really
stepping up because he is the guy for San Antonio.
But I also think when you're trying to defend someone
(19:53):
like Victor Webbin Yama, it provides space for other people
on the court to really play and show out because
that defense needs to be able to like watch out
for him. And so what I'm really excited to see
Steph is that there's a lot of young guys i'd
say on san Antonio, and I think that there's veterans
who also maybe haven't always got a fair shake or
(20:16):
a fair shot, or who haven't become as big names
as they could be. And so with him in the
mix and with him knock on wood anyway, that's in
my head whenever I say knock on wood, I sing
Taylor Swift. I think that there's like potential for san
Antonio to potentially get out of their rebuilds. I'd say
(20:36):
not this year, but you know, maybe by year five
with Wemby.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So to give you some stats to in Wemby's rookie year,
the Spurs when less than twenty seven percent of their games,
and then that number jumped to about forty one percent
in his sophomore season. So I am curious to see
what that'll be in the third season with that percentage
will shake out to be.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
He's also just like such a global star, and I
think a lot of people are obsessed with him. There's
so many players like a Luka Doncic, like a Lebron
James who are like, this kid's the real deal. And
so I feel like When you're hearing that from the
arguably the best players in the league that they're looking
out for him, that's pretty cool. Another thing we have
to talk about stuff, because this is the gist and
(21:20):
we love things that happen off the court is his
off season side quest.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yes, there has never I love it when players give.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Us stuff like this to talk about, so thank you so,
and their personality. We get to see their personality.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Because he does say, or he has said recently, the
least interesting thing about him is his height, and we're
going to tell you why. So. Like our famed horse
girl Nikola Jokic, Webby's off season.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Was not exclusively about basketball.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
He played pickup soccer in Costa Rica. He started synchronized
swimming with the rest of the Spurs.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
He spents the swimming tie.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
There's the seat. We got to get cake? Can we
get the tape?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Some is the tape.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
He spent two.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Weeks in China at a temple, spending time with monks,
and he wanted to put his body through things that
he's not used to doing. So he learned kung fu,
studied meditation, and ate almost strictly, vegan males of zucchini
and rice noodles, but did have to sneak out of
the temple to eat meat to maintain.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
His weight, which I can wow.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I can picture for a young lad of his stature
that being very important. And he even shaved his head
because he had to.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
The monks asked them too, and he was like.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That, Wow, that's so cool. These athletes really aren't like us.
Seph No, No. When I see that, especially spending time
with monks and doing that for two weeks and committing
yourself to that, I go. And that's why he's one
of the greatest basketball players.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
In the world.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Just that next level attention to your mental side of
the game as well. You know, that's that's really really cool.
So I do think he is going to go down
as one of the best players to play in the NBA.
But I also feel like he might go down as
one of the most interesting athletes to play the NBA.
(23:00):
And what I have to also say to that stuff
is like the Europeans are bringing it in the NBA
in terms of being interesting outside of basketball. And I'm
not saying there might be something in the water with
the Europeans where maybe they're just brought up to be
potentially more well rounded, potentially playing more sports when they're younger,
(23:21):
potentially encouraged to pursue other passions in addition to basketball.
I mean, I'm not saying basketball players from North America
are boring. Look at Shai Gilgas Alexander Fashion King, and
we love that passion that he has for fashion.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
But I feel like so.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Many of the Europeans are just more entertaining off the court,
at least to me, I think that.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Makes sense in terms of if you look at the
North American culture versus European culture and our relationship to
work as well. Yeah, fascinating stuff. It's time for our
personal training, sessh. This is the segment of the podcast
(24:04):
where we are asking for you to give us stuff
to either talk about. We want to answer your heart
hitting questions about anything in the sports world. We also
want to discuss any sort of hot takes you might have.
We want you involved in this last segment of the podcast.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
And in today's personal training sessh, Steph, we have exactly that.
We have a hot take, and we have a hot
take from mc so M. First name see last name
M is a longtime just her. She has been around
since like twenty eighteen. So thank you so much for
hanging with us for the last seven years. It's been
(24:40):
so much fun. Also getting to know you through a
parasocial relationship, I would say, and sometimes an IRL relationship.
But mdmd us And said this hot take. Hockey players
are still the classiest athletes. They will beat the crap
out of each other during the playoffs, but they will
always shake hand at the end of the series. The
(25:02):
Yankees could not get out of there fast enough last
night and her dm and of course this is her
response to the Jays defeating the Yankees in the American
League Divisional Series and the Yankees just truly wanting to
get out of there and truly being frustrated with their series.
So steph your reaction.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
The Yankee clues.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
The Yankees loose? Did you hear about okay, sorry pause?
Did you hear about when Big Poppy was coming in too?
Speaker 2 (25:37):
So?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
David Ortiz, who basically coined that phrase, made that phrase famous.
And then when Vladi Greer Junior was interviewing with Pappy,
he said that to him, did you hear about what
happened to him when he came over the border? Stuff?
Speaker 3 (25:51):
I sure did.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
It was amazing. So for those who don't know when
he came over the border, the immigration person in Canada
are not serious sometimes, like, really, what's happening. They're not serious.
They go to Big Poppy, they go duh, Yankees lose
as he's coming across the border. And you know what,
that person they had one shot, one opportunity, and they
(26:14):
went for it and they crushed it. Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I So circling back to circling back to the hot take,
to M's hot.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Take, I.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I am having a really hard time with this because
I have a hard time thinking positively about the etiquette
of male hockey players. So I don't know if you're
talking about women or men. I'm going to assume men
because you talked about Yankees, and so I'm thinking that
you're in the world of male professional sports.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
I just I have a hard time thinking that hockey
players are more sportsmanlike than say, rugby players would be.
Would you agree, Ellen, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Here's the thing. I feel like I, from a very
far degree away, because of Netflix, have a kind of
look a better understanding and look into the clubhouse of
team sports and the brotherhood. I guess, for lack of
(27:16):
a better term, that comes from being a professional athlete
and truly understanding each other, if that makes sense, And
so I would say football, basketball, hockey to me are
actually very much all on the same level, because I
do think at the end of the day, there's a
lot of respect for each other and what each other
is doing. I think that there's a lot of love
(27:38):
because so many of them have played college together or
other teams together. But then at the same time, those
people who really despise each other properly despise each other
if they will grudgingly shake a hand. So I think
it is kind of whatever I think from an entire
sport perspective. I'm sorry, but I do have to disagree.
I really think that it is rugby, and I think
(27:59):
stef to what happens in rugby. It's so interesting and
this is at every single level of rugby. Those guys
and gals truly be the crap out of each other.
And regardless of what happens at the end of a
rugby match, you go to a bar, you grab a beer,
you grab some freights, whatever it is, and you hang
out with the other team. And that culture I don't think.
(28:22):
I don't have any other sport that can replicate that.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
What I've been really liking watching the playoffs for baseball
too is also obviously this isn't every single player, but
I love watching the basement chat with the players on
base and it's cute, Like I think it's so cute,
And I was trying to think of that happening in hockey,
(28:47):
like at a face off or something. It just simply
wouldn't happen, Like I do think that there is a
level of camaraderie that I'm really being drawn.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
To in baseball.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
But of course I do think getting kicked out of
a series does suck. But and I've never really paid
attention to what happens after the game ends. I usually
turn it off, so I don't know, Like I can't
compare the level of handshaken sportsmanship that happens. I'm not
probably the best person to do that. I just have
a really hard time imagining hockey players that aren't women
(29:20):
like being overly civil to each other after the end
of the day.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They do that at the end of playoffs, for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah they can't they shake hands, yeah exactly, But are
they gonna they.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Be nice to each other outside of the arena.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Depends on the player, That's what I mean. I think
rugby rugby on the whole like people are. That's their community,
that's their culture, that's what they do after a game
versus hockey. It's like they will do it, and I
think altogether they do have a lot of love and
respect for each other, but it would only happen at
the end of a big series or something like that.
What I will say is, I do think that team
(29:55):
sports are a lot more I don't know, classy or
like community for than individual sports. Being a figure skater
getting into golfing, watching golfing f one could could be
maybe way less glassy than all of these other team sports.
So that is I think we're I think being in
(30:15):
the team sports side of things makes sense to me.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
That's a really good point too, because I often think
about how often tennis players are critiqued for the way
that they react after the end of a match.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
So much more personal. So it's like just such a
so personal, such a mental load. The rivalries are just
at this whole other level that it's hard sometimes to
separate what happens on the links or on the core
or on the ice and separate that out. We love
this hot take them obviously, we all have different opinions
on it and that's what makes it take spicy. So
(30:46):
if you would like to be featured on a future episode,
if you have a hot take, if you disagree with
us here, anything else we want to hear from you,
please call and leave us a voicemail at one four
three seven five six four five five seven nine That
numbers also in the show notes. If you just want
to click that link. You can also email us at
pod at the gisporce dot com or message Steph or
(31:07):
I on and I or and or on Instagram. I'm
at Ellen at the Gist and Steph is at Sephanie Rots.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
And with that, that marks the end of today's episode.
Thank you so much for tuning in, for for being
back with us in your feeds. What a fun, fun
night it's been to see you again. Ellen and I
have missed you so so much, and I've missed you
guys all so so much. And We'll be back in
your feed with the new podcast on Thursday. In the meantime,
if you enjoyed today's episode, we would absolutely love you
could rate, review, subscribe and send us in a personal
(31:36):
training sash, I love being.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Back on our routine.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Oh, I love a routine.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yeah, I wouldn't say I love a routine. I like
a routine, but I'm very happy to be back doing
the podcast. When we're doing them. As we're doing them,
it felt a little discombobulated before.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
You're way more flexible of a human being than me,
like quite.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Literally in yes, yeh unfortunately fortunately literally literally and also
literally in the other way too, physically, physically and mentally.
Perhaps Ellen's hyperflexible.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
She's had injuries for it. That's why we're laughing.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
That's why we're laughing. Yeah, exactly. When I tore my knee,
they went, mmmm, you're hyper flexible, and I said, damn
figure skating anyway. This episode was edited by Savannah Held
and produced by the wonderful Lisa Minettilo, Alexandra Puccio, and
Lauren Tuscala. Again, I'm ill In Hisslap.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
And I'm Steph Rott, and we will chat with you
again on Thursday. Oh and let me know Americans out.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
There, especially, are you guys rooting for the Blue Jays?
If you don't live in la please tell me. Thank
you bye
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Bab.
What's up, justters, Welcome or welcome back to another episode
of The Gist of It. Today's Tuesday, October twenty eighth.
We're your co hosts.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm Ellen Hissla and I'm Steph Rots And what you
all just didn't hear in the bloopers that Savannah, our
editor had to edit out, I just said, I'm Ellen Stephanie.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
And that's the type of day that has been for
me today, Steph. I can't even say my name right,
I'm Ellen Stephanie.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Apparently I thought you were gonna say.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
And that's the kind of relationship that we have is
we get lost in each other.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We do get lost in each other. Libro's Libro's forever.
It feels like it's been such a long time since
we've been on the podcast together stuff because you rightfully
so took a beat for your birthday and enjoyed a
nice birthday day off. And then we had our just
team off site last week, so we only had one
podcast go live, but that was pre recorded. So I
(01:00):
really missed you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I have missed you so much.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I also just spent the weekend with a friend that
I only know because Ellen introduced me to her, and obviously,
we spent a good chunk of it talking about how
much we love you and miss you and want to
see you all the time. So I actually miss you
because you've just been so top of mind for me.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh my gosh, the amount of fomo that I had
when you two were posting your camping trip. I said,
this is not good. This is green with envy. This
is one of the sins. I'm not sure what it is,
but you know, it makes me so happy that you
all are friends, but it makes me so mad when
you do things with that me, you know. But I
(01:41):
can't physically be there because we don't live in the
same city. But I'm so happy for you both well
at the same time, I just want to operate and
be there with you.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I totally agree. We do wish you were there. We
are so happy for you as well because of all
the things that you got cooking in your life metaphorically.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
And so yeah, I did get to see the both
of you at my baby shower, which was so fun.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I can't believe you had a whole ass baby shower.
Since we last talked to, like on the podcast, we
so much has happened, and it has been a hot minute.
We are so sorry Justers that you had to have
time away from us, and we are so sorry that
last week could not be timely because I know a
lot of folks did want to hear us talking about
the World Series.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yes, which we will get to today. But also, Steph,
I'm so excited because during this whirlwind, the NBA season started. Woof,
I can't we just missed the beginning of the NBA season.
Thankfully our newsletter team didn't, so we put out special editions.
We're starting to cover it. There's already been a freakin
sports betting scandal that's happened in the NBA that our
(02:41):
team covered that missus is ludicrous and will continue to
cover it. But we decided today instead of getting into
the sports betting scandal because that feels a little bit old,
go to the just sports dot com get caught up
on it. It is she's talking to me unfamiliar at
Steph rots, But we're choosing the bright side of the
(03:02):
NBA today, and Victor webbin Yama is the bright side
of the NBA to me right.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Now, hundred per cent.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Even before he arrived to the league back in twenty
twenty three, Webban Yama has been touted as the NBA's
next generational star, and we are going to talk about
that today. He is now in his third season and
just positively exploding on the court, and you love to
see someone living up to the hype.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
He is seven foot four and he is tall, and
he is lanky and wiry, and people call him Wemby
lovingly because Webin Yama is a mouthful to say, so
people call him Wemby. And we need to use today
to really talk about why Webby is that girl? You
(03:51):
know what I mean? Like, he is that girl and
we need to talk about it. But first I want
to call an audible, and I want to call an
audible with the premise of we are recording this on
Monday evening before the Toronto Blue Jays and the La
Dodgers faced off in Game three of the World Series,
(04:12):
so as we're recording, the World Series is one to one.
What I want to talk about, Step, is your feelings
of the Jonas brothers performing at the World Series.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I have so many feelings unfortunately. So Yeah, it's October
twenty seventh, just in case you need a physical date
to attach to it today's episode.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, Ellen, you know that I'm Alung longtime Jonah's brother fan.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, I have given them so much of my time,
so much of my money. Over my lifetime. I have
sustained friendships via the Jonas brothers. They truly were a
pivotal part of my life. And then they collaborated.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
With Rascal Flats.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
After Rascal Flats played at Trump's inauguration and Nick Jonah
tweeted at Elon Musk in admiration, and Joe Jonas and
Sophie Turner got a divorce and Joe tried to smear
her in the press and painter as a bad mother.
And I always knew that they were going to disappoint
me in some way. I just didn't think it was
(05:16):
going to be this way. I thought it was gonna
be something different. I was not emotionally prepared, and I've
tried to disentangle myself from them, and so to have
them at the World Series when the Toronto Blue Jays
are in it for the first time really in our lifetime.
I know that Ellen, you and I were born in
ninety two, so we were literal babies in ninety two
and ninety three, so those don't count in my opinion.
(05:38):
So since I've been able to watch television, this is
the first time they're in the World Series, So please,
I'm so upset. Why did they have to intermingle and
ruin that?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
For me? It also to me felt so random random.
I mean, it felt just so random. It was like
this little blip of a Jonas brother's concert and then
it was just right back to the game. Like I
love the pregame entertainment and what they've been doing for
the national anthems and the first pitch and all that
(06:06):
sort of stuff. It seems like a really good time
for the World Series. However, if you're going to put
it on a performance, make it like the Super Bowl
halftime show. Don't just drop in with a random mix
from the Jonas Brothers and then go back to baseball.
That truly doesn't add anything for me from a fan
experience perspective.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I'm not a baseball purist by any means, but
to me, it makes no sense to interrupt a baseball
game with a performance that is just not It's already
long game. And I say that with so much love
in my heart. And there are natural breaks, obviously, but
I just don't think that it's necessary either do it
at the beginning, do a pre show like Alan mentioned,
(06:47):
or do something at the end, or I don't know,
figure something else, don't do it at all at all.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Literally don't do it at all. So and I think
two stuff was so with a Part of this, too,
is that this series has so far been awesome and
both teams are so good.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
The pitching for the La Dodgers is literally lights out,
and the bats for the Jas are going up against
the hardest bullpen or actually maybe not bullpen, the hardest
starters that they've ever seen, the toughest aces that they've
ever seen.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And so I think also stef because the baseball is
so good and there's so many storylines on both sides,
and also because the players are lovable on both sides.
I really do enjoy and like a lot of players
on the Dodgers and enjoy and like a lot of
players on the Blue Jays that it just felt so
unnecessary with the Jonas brothers. So I really wanted your
pop culture take, So thank you for giving that.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And I would like to know I'm asking the audience,
I'm asking y'all a question because of course I'm biased.
My algorithm is going to give me the information and
the content that they know that I want to see
to keep me on the apps.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I totally understand that. So that's why I'm asking you, folks.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Is it true that everyone except for la is rooting
for the Toronto Blue Jays or is that just what
my feed's telling me.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
That's hilarious. I think that's just what your feet is
telling you. But I would love to know as well
if that's happening elsewhere. I think I think it's less
people cheering for the Blue Jays, and I think a
lot of people's stuff saying they're doing it for the
plot and for the bit, basically saying, in today's world,
where there's a lot of tariffs being slung back and
forth between the US and Canada, how funny would it
(08:31):
be if a Canadian team won at America's pastime? And
so I think that there's a lot of people out
there that are like this would be funny for the plot.
I really hope that the Toronto Blue Jays do it
for the bit.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Also, the Dodgers have been in the World Series so
many times. Please let us have this and then maybe
I can get a day off work too.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Biggest payroll in baseball, baby, that's what you get. So
we talked about you being scared of the Jonas Brothers,
I'd say stuff. I think that that's a good way
to phrase it. And scary makes sense because we are
in the midst of spooky season. It is almost October
thirty first October. I love this witchy time. But to me, Seph,
(09:13):
what is scarier than the Shonas Brothers, What is scarier
than a haunted house? It actually is the Internet. And
that's because between trolls, gatekeepers and man splainers, being a
woman in sports online can truly feel like a horror movie.
And that is why, in case you haven't heard about it,
we have built the Just Plus. It's a safe, inclusive
(09:33):
community where real fans can connect, talk sports, and celebrate
without the scary vibes. For just four ninety nine a month,
anyone who joins the Just Plus will get access to
our ultra supportive discord, which is so much fun to
be part of and to be chatting about throughout these games,
a member's only newsletter and discounts on just merch and events,
(09:54):
or if you're ready to go to All Star for
nine ninety nine a month, you'll also get in an
exclusive podcast feed and partner perks with your favorite teams
in sports bars. So think two for one drinks, or
discounts to the Colorado Avalanche, discounts to the New York Giants,
whatever it is. So we really truly feel like anyone
who's listening to this podcast is the perfect member for
(10:18):
the Just Plus. And if you're interested in learning more,
go to the link in our show notes or visit
the Just sports dot com and you'll see at the
top of our website it says the Just plus and join.
We'd love to see you there, and we'd love for
you to escape the haunted Internet with us.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Alrighty rude, it's time to dive into all things Victor Weimbanyama,
one of the most exciting prospects to ever play in
the NBA.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Steph, you love a French accent. How would you say
Victor and a French accent? VICTA say it again and
Victor Victor?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I have no idea. Yeah, that was just fun.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, I was thinking about that before the podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I really don't know either, because he's French, that's what
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Well, he's a friend, he's twenty one, Yeah, he's from
French's He's from He's from friend He's from France, which
is a huge basketball country, especially nowadays, which is really
really fun. We've seen so many we've seen such great
talent from the w NBA or enter the w NBA
and the NBA as of late from France, and I
feel like it's been a like with Tony Parker from France,
(11:32):
all that sort of stuff. I feel like he influenced
a lot of French folk to play the beautiful game
of basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Remember the Olympics, the Summer Olympics that happened this Yeah,
the year you got married.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
No, it was the year after, dear, No, twenty twenty
four was the Summer Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I remember watching the Olympics at your.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
House, did it not? We watched soccer.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Not the year I got married. I got married the
year before.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Oh I was.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I was in at your house for someone else's wedding,
so exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
But yeah, they're as you got married.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But yeah, France killed it all to say exactly what
you just said. Anyway, I was like, wait, I.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Was in your house right right right here.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So we're watching basketball. Yeah, we were watching We were
watching basketball together. We're watching France play really well, like
twos say are start leg Anyway, that's what we do together.
We watched sports. So for a little bit of context,
let's talk about who Victor Webbin Yama is. He was
the first pick in the twenty twenty three NBA Draft.
He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs and also
(12:44):
as as a result, had the opportunity to be coached
by legendary head coach Greg Popovich. Pop, who had won
five NBA championships, spent twenty nine seasons as the Spurs
head coach before stepping down in May following a stroke.
And I think because of pop stuff, the Spurs were
seen as an awesome place for Wemby to land, an
(13:05):
awesome place for him to grow. But also in San Antonio.
Don't come at me. I would say San Antonio is
almost like a mid market NBA franchise, and that it's
not massive like an LA or a New York or
even a Boston, so that he could kind of I
don't know. I don't want to say go under the radar,
(13:26):
because he certainly hasn't done that. In San Antonio has
had a lot of stars over the years, but I
feel like a market like San Antonio allows you to
just kind of step in as opposed to sprint in.
I don't know if that's fair. Maybe that's just my opinion.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I'm gonna maybe help you out there too and say,
the culture surrounding that team probably would be different than
a Boston Celtics or an LA Lakers in terms of
the expectations that the fan base and the everyone who
watches the NBA might have on them.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Is that what you're getting at too? It's like, yeah,
a supportive environment.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yes, and they have one A championships like no, no, no, no, yeah, yeah,
but yeah, like it's supportive, but it's also just like
it's not a major market, you know what I mean?
Like you're I don't know, anyway less pressure than in
LA or in New York or Boston.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Did Becky Hammond coach with Greg Popovich? Is that Okay?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
That's who she was assistant coach for and Becky Hammond
Las Vegas Asis head coach who just won another fricking
WNBA championship. But anyway, we're not talking about the WNBA today.
We were talking about Wemby and so let's talk about
why he's so hyped so, as I already mentioned, he's enormous.
He's seven foot four, so think about how tall he is,
but also think about that wings fan, and I think
(14:40):
that Wigs fan is huge. His first two season stuff,
get this, he was listed at seven foot three. This
season he's listed at seven foot four. And he's so young.
He's twenty one. And famously, boys and I am calling
him a boy still grow at that age and so
he could still be growing.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I grew one into my twenties.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Did you actually so girls do too? You're like boys
could do it?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I can heart?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Can it be? Boys do it? I also grew an
inch to a whopping five to five or five four.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
But the NBA does see this a lot, right, because
did you grow to five five or five four? I
was five four for the longest time, and then we
pulled out the uh measuring.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Tape with my mom in my thirties and I was.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Five to five.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Trust me, if I had ever recorded a five to five,
I would be telling people on five to five.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, I love that anyway. Sorry, that's huge, that's a
that's big stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
So what happened at some point the last time I
would have measured myself would have been like driver's license era,
so like when I got my full license would have
been a couple of years after my teenage years, like
twenty something.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Any users, anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
This isn't about me, unfortunately, even though I'm so good
at doing that. This is about the NBA.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yes, and his wingspan stuff, like if he's growing, his
wigspan is apparently eight feet.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Whoa, I'm swingspan he could.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Oh my god, we just did the same brain wavelength
I was just about to say. And I want to
know why he isn't swimming as well, because that's what
he's giving. He's giving Michael Phelps. And so last season,
Steph he led the NBA in blocks despite playing in
only forty six games out of the eighty two, after
a season ending deep veme like thrombosis diagnosis. I have
(16:31):
no idea what that means, but just a deep vein issue, okay. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And not only is he huge, he plays basketball in
a way that people his height usually cannot. Unlike most
people who play his position with his height, et cetera,
et cetera, Wemby will dribble the ball down the court
in despite a size. He has remarkable ball control and
is able to keep his frame low and his dribble tight.
And usually, of course you can just think about the
(16:56):
physics of it all. Usually tall ball handlers are easy
targets for steals. There's just literally more space between their
hands and the ground. But he accounts for this, and
he is a great handler.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
He has handles, and that's something that you don't normally see.
I also think, too, what's so interesting about watching him
in a game. Stuff He can shoot beyond the arc.
He literally is not scared about shooting threes, and so
I feel like I feel like we see this a
little bit in someone like a Kevin Durant. He's not
(17:28):
Kevin Durant isn't as tall as someone like Wemby, but
he's wiry in the same type of way. I find
that KD is also a tall man who can shoot
a lot of threes. But I would say that KD
I would never feel comfortable if I was his coach
actually with him bringing the ball up the court versus Wemby.
I'm like, hell, yeah, dude, if you got the ball,
(17:48):
like continue to go up the court. And so that
is something that is so special, and I think that's
part of the reason stuff. Why so many people refer
to Wemby as an alien or as a unicorn.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yeah, because he's also one of the best isolation players,
so one on one in the game, which is also
unheard of for amnimphysize. So just to slight that last
little fact in there too before we talk about how
this particular season is projected to go and has already gone.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, so we're only three games in.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Yeah, we're only three games in. It's so funny. I
love how us as fans were like and so San
Antonio is going to be in the playoffs, Like that's
what we're thinking now. I love how NHL fans are
like the Maple Leafs, the Toronto maple Leafs haven't had
the best start, so like they're in the cam this year. Guys,
let's take a freaking breather. Okay. Yeah, So Wemby won
(18:36):
Rookie of the Year in his inaugural year, not a surprise,
and then he led the Leada League and block as
you mentioned. In his sophomore season, the Spurs of played
three games as you mentioned, Steph, but already Wemby is
the first player in NBA history to score one hundred
points more than one hundred points and have over fifteen
(18:58):
blocks through the first three games of this season. Now,
I will say sports SATs are freaking weird, right, Like
what is that for the first three games, But that's
a lot of points. When you do one hundred divided
by three, and when you do over fifteen blocks divided by.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Three, he has more blocks than twenty four teams do in.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Total so far this he has eighteen blocks this season.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah, only the Pistons, Grizzlies, Clippery Celtics, and of course
the Spurs have more than just him alone.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
It's actually wild. And I feel like Seph when we
were talking about the Spurs and talking about this mid market.
They are in a rebuild, I think, and I think
that they're trying to build around someone like Wemby. And
so what's really interesting here Steph is he's really really
stepping up because he is the guy for San Antonio.
But I also think when you're trying to defend someone
(19:53):
like Victor Webbin Yama, it provides space for other people
on the court to really play and show out because
that defense needs to be able to like watch out
for him. And so what I'm really excited to see
Steph is that there's a lot of young guys i'd
say on san Antonio, and I think that there's veterans
who also maybe haven't always got a fair shake or
(20:16):
a fair shot, or who haven't become as big names
as they could be. And so with him in the
mix and with him knock on wood anyway, that's in
my head whenever I say knock on wood, I sing
Taylor Swift. I think that there's like potential for san
Antonio to potentially get out of their rebuilds. I'd say
(20:36):
not this year, but you know, maybe by year five
with Wemby.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So to give you some stats to in Wemby's rookie year,
the Spurs when less than twenty seven percent of their games,
and then that number jumped to about forty one percent
in his sophomore season. So I am curious to see
what that'll be in the third season with that percentage
will shake out to be.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
He's also just like such a global star, and I
think a lot of people are obsessed with him. There's
so many players like a Luka Doncic, like a Lebron
James who are like, this kid's the real deal. And
so I feel like When you're hearing that from the
arguably the best players in the league that they're looking
out for him, that's pretty cool. Another thing we have
to talk about stuff, because this is the gist and
(21:20):
we love things that happen off the court is his
off season side quest.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yes, there has never I love it when players give.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Us stuff like this to talk about, so thank you so,
and their personality. We get to see their personality.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Because he does say, or he has said recently, the
least interesting thing about him is his height, and we're
going to tell you why. So. Like our famed horse
girl Nikola Jokic, Webby's off season.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Was not exclusively about basketball.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
He played pickup soccer in Costa Rica. He started synchronized
swimming with the rest of the Spurs.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
He spents the swimming tie.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
There's the seat. We got to get cake? Can we
get the tape?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Some is the tape.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
He spent two.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Weeks in China at a temple, spending time with monks,
and he wanted to put his body through things that
he's not used to doing. So he learned kung fu,
studied meditation, and ate almost strictly, vegan males of zucchini
and rice noodles, but did have to sneak out of
the temple to eat meat to maintain.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
His weight, which I can wow.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I can picture for a young lad of his stature
that being very important. And he even shaved his head
because he had to.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
The monks asked them too, and he was like.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That, Wow, that's so cool. These athletes really aren't like us.
Seph No, No. When I see that, especially spending time
with monks and doing that for two weeks and committing
yourself to that, I go. And that's why he's one
of the greatest basketball players.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
In the world.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Just that next level attention to your mental side of
the game as well. You know, that's that's really really cool.
So I do think he is going to go down
as one of the best players to play in the NBA.
But I also feel like he might go down as
one of the most interesting athletes to play the NBA.
(23:00):
And what I have to also say to that stuff
is like the Europeans are bringing it in the NBA
in terms of being interesting outside of basketball. And I'm
not saying there might be something in the water with
the Europeans where maybe they're just brought up to be
potentially more well rounded, potentially playing more sports when they're younger,
(23:21):
potentially encouraged to pursue other passions in addition to basketball.
I mean, I'm not saying basketball players from North America
are boring. Look at Shai Gilgas Alexander Fashion King, and
we love that passion that he has for fashion.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
But I feel like so.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Many of the Europeans are just more entertaining off the court,
at least to me, I think that.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Makes sense in terms of if you look at the
North American culture versus European culture and our relationship to
work as well. Yeah, fascinating stuff. It's time for our
personal training, sessh. This is the segment of the podcast
(24:04):
where we are asking for you to give us stuff
to either talk about. We want to answer your heart
hitting questions about anything in the sports world. We also
want to discuss any sort of hot takes you might have.
We want you involved in this last segment of the podcast.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
And in today's personal training sessh, Steph, we have exactly that.
We have a hot take, and we have a hot
take from mc so M. First name see last name
M is a longtime just her. She has been around
since like twenty eighteen. So thank you so much for
hanging with us for the last seven years. It's been
(24:40):
so much fun. Also getting to know you through a
parasocial relationship, I would say, and sometimes an IRL relationship.
But mdmd us And said this hot take. Hockey players
are still the classiest athletes. They will beat the crap
out of each other during the playoffs, but they will
always shake hand at the end of the series. The
(25:02):
Yankees could not get out of there fast enough last
night and her dm and of course this is her
response to the Jays defeating the Yankees in the American
League Divisional Series and the Yankees just truly wanting to
get out of there and truly being frustrated with their series.
So steph your reaction.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
The Yankee clues.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
The Yankees loose? Did you hear about okay, sorry pause?
Did you hear about when Big Poppy was coming in too?
Speaker 2 (25:37):
So?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
David Ortiz, who basically coined that phrase, made that phrase famous.
And then when Vladi Greer Junior was interviewing with Pappy,
he said that to him, did you hear about what
happened to him when he came over the border? Stuff?
Speaker 3 (25:51):
I sure did.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
It was amazing. So for those who don't know when
he came over the border, the immigration person in Canada
are not serious sometimes, like, really, what's happening. They're not serious.
They go to Big Poppy, they go duh, Yankees lose
as he's coming across the border. And you know what,
that person they had one shot, one opportunity, and they
(26:14):
went for it and they crushed it. Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I So circling back to circling back to the hot take,
to M's hot.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Take, I.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I am having a really hard time with this because
I have a hard time thinking positively about the etiquette
of male hockey players. So I don't know if you're
talking about women or men. I'm going to assume men
because you talked about Yankees, and so I'm thinking that
you're in the world of male professional sports.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
I just I have a hard time thinking that hockey
players are more sportsmanlike than say, rugby players would be.
Would you agree, Ellen, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Here's the thing. I feel like I, from a very
far degree away, because of Netflix, have a kind of
look a better understanding and look into the clubhouse of
team sports and the brotherhood. I guess, for lack of
(27:16):
a better term, that comes from being a professional athlete
and truly understanding each other, if that makes sense, And
so I would say football, basketball, hockey to me are
actually very much all on the same level, because I
do think at the end of the day, there's a
lot of respect for each other and what each other
is doing. I think that there's a lot of love
(27:38):
because so many of them have played college together or
other teams together. But then at the same time, those
people who really despise each other properly despise each other
if they will grudgingly shake a hand. So I think
it is kind of whatever I think from an entire
sport perspective. I'm sorry, but I do have to disagree.
I really think that it is rugby, and I think
(27:59):
stef to what happens in rugby. It's so interesting and
this is at every single level of rugby. Those guys
and gals truly be the crap out of each other.
And regardless of what happens at the end of a
rugby match, you go to a bar, you grab a beer,
you grab some freights, whatever it is, and you hang
out with the other team. And that culture I don't think.
(28:22):
I don't have any other sport that can replicate that.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
What I've been really liking watching the playoffs for baseball
too is also obviously this isn't every single player, but
I love watching the basement chat with the players on
base and it's cute, Like I think it's so cute,
And I was trying to think of that happening in hockey,
(28:47):
like at a face off or something. It just simply
wouldn't happen, Like I do think that there is a
level of camaraderie that I'm really being drawn.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
To in baseball.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
But of course I do think getting kicked out of
a series does suck. But and I've never really paid
attention to what happens after the game ends. I usually
turn it off, so I don't know, Like I can't
compare the level of handshaken sportsmanship that happens. I'm not
probably the best person to do that. I just have
a really hard time imagining hockey players that aren't women
(29:20):
like being overly civil to each other after the end
of the day.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They do that at the end of playoffs, for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah they can't they shake hands, yeah exactly, But are
they gonna they.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Be nice to each other outside of the arena.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Depends on the player, That's what I mean. I think
rugby rugby on the whole like people are. That's their community,
that's their culture, that's what they do after a game
versus hockey. It's like they will do it, and I
think altogether they do have a lot of love and
respect for each other, but it would only happen at
the end of a big series or something like that.
What I will say is, I do think that team
(29:55):
sports are a lot more I don't know, classy or
like community for than individual sports. Being a figure skater
getting into golfing, watching golfing f one could could be
maybe way less glassy than all of these other team sports.
So that is I think we're I think being in
(30:15):
the team sports side of things makes sense to me.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
That's a really good point too, because I often think
about how often tennis players are critiqued for the way
that they react after the end of a match.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
So much more personal. So it's like just such a
so personal, such a mental load. The rivalries are just
at this whole other level that it's hard sometimes to
separate what happens on the links or on the core
or on the ice and separate that out. We love
this hot take them obviously, we all have different opinions
on it and that's what makes it take spicy. So
(30:46):
if you would like to be featured on a future episode,
if you have a hot take, if you disagree with
us here, anything else we want to hear from you,
please call and leave us a voicemail at one four
three seven five six four five five seven nine That
numbers also in the show notes. If you just want
to click that link. You can also email us at
pod at the gisporce dot com or message Steph or
(31:07):
I on and I or and or on Instagram. I'm
at Ellen at the Gist and Steph is at Sephanie Rots.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
And with that, that marks the end of today's episode.
Thank you so much for tuning in, for for being
back with us in your feeds. What a fun, fun
night it's been to see you again. Ellen and I
have missed you so so much, and I've missed you
guys all so so much. And We'll be back in
your feed with the new podcast on Thursday. In the meantime,
if you enjoyed today's episode, we would absolutely love you
could rate, review, subscribe and send us in a personal
(31:36):
training sash, I love being.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Back on our routine.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Oh, I love a routine.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yeah, I wouldn't say I love a routine. I like
a routine, but I'm very happy to be back doing
the podcast. When we're doing them. As we're doing them,
it felt a little discombobulated before.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
You're way more flexible of a human being than me,
like quite.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Literally in yes, yeh unfortunately fortunately literally literally and also
literally in the other way too, physically, physically and mentally.
Perhaps Ellen's hyperflexible.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
She's had injuries for it. That's why we're laughing.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
That's why we're laughing. Yeah, exactly. When I tore my knee,
they went, mmmm, you're hyper flexible, and I said, damn
figure skating anyway. This episode was edited by Savannah Held
and produced by the wonderful Lisa Minettilo, Alexandra Puccio, and
Lauren Tuscala. Again, I'm ill In Hisslap.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
And I'm Steph Rott, and we will chat with you
again on Thursday. Oh and let me know Americans out.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
There, especially, are you guys rooting for the Blue Jays?
If you don't live in la please tell me. Thank
you bye
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Bab.
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